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Entry #1: Online Poker - The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
After nearly two decades of being a professional chess player, trainer and writer I began to entertain a transition into the world of poker during the years it took to research and write my book Gambling Online.
That much of this 'research' increasingly consisted of intensive playing sessions on 32Red is indicative both of the initial fun factor afforded by online poker and the subsequent seriousness with which I had decided to approach the game.
Not only could I call on my years of experience as a pro chess player by adopting a very similar work ethic to that which I had developed during my travels on the international tournament circuit, but online poker provided an advantage that most of us are only too happy to exploit - the luxury of being able to play at home. That is not to say, incidentally, that all online poker players are lazy good-for-nothings with a penchant for sitting in front of the computer half-dressed, assorted snacks and liquid refreshment located conveniently within reach. Of course I would be willing to wager that a great number of online poker fans do fall into this category (tut, tut...) but, given that poker at any kind of genuine money making level could be quite justifiably tagged with a sporting label (as is the case with chess), then such bad habits are obviously not conducive to achieving success. Which reminds me - I seem to have run out of junk food/drinks and my wife has rather selfishly nipped out with our two-year-old daughter for a walk around the village and to take in some good old-fashioned Scottish fresh air. So excuse me for a minute while I make my way to the kitchen for a fresh batch of supplies....
That brisk walk took me via the exercise bike, which served to remind me of my fundamental point - healthy body, healthy mind etc etc. Online poker is fantastic (in fact in the great scheme of things it is way ahead of sliced bread, if you ask me), having as it does two wonderful ingredients: entertainment and the facility to help oneself to other people's money which, for some reason, is always more fun to spend than one's own.
Making sure to approach the whole online poker experience as sensibly as possible is the only way to keep it fun, improve and - hopefully - have a realistic chance of attaining some level of success, and each week, with this in mind, I shall touch upon all aspects of the game - from No Limit multi-table tournament strategies to the grind of low limit ring games, plus psychology, probability and so on.
In an ideal world we could endeavour to give both sound advice and, subsequently, adhere to it ourselves, so I also intend to keep you periodically posted with my own playing experiences and progress (or otherwise) on 32Red, which will include various special challenge events with 32Red players as well as the usual mix of tournaments and ring games.
Until next time... good luck!
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